startup

American  

[stahrt-uhp] / ˈstɑrtˌʌp /

Or start-up

noun

1. the act or fact of starting something; a setting in motion.

2. a new business venture, or a new commercial or industrial project.

   a small, 5-month-old internet startup.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the beginning of such a venture or project, especially to an investment made to initiate it.

   high start-up costs for construction of a new facility.

Etymology

Origin of startup

First recorded in 1550–60; noun use of verb phrase start up

Explanation

The word startup refers to either the process of beginning something or a new entrepreneurial business. The startup costs for your sister's startup might be higher than she thinks. Most startups offer their customers something innovative — a new product, like a dog toy that's truly indestructible, or an ingenious service, like a smartphone app that tells you where the closest public restrooms are. A startup begins with a great idea, is backed by investments of money, and is intended to grow very quickly — assuming it's successful.

Example Sentences

Startup DeepSeek started life in 2023 as a side project of a data-driven hedge fund, but shook up the global AI scene with its "R1" model in January 2025.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Appeared in the March 3, 2026, print edition as 'Chip Startup Raises $500 Million'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Appeared in the January 7, 2026, print edition as 'Fusion Startup Gets an AI Boost From Nvidia and Siemens'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

Appeared in the December 17, 2025, print edition as 'Cyber Startup Cyera Valued At $9 Billion via Blackstone'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

"Don't you think that Mr Startup makes himself a little forward?"

From Miss Mackenzie by Trollope, Anthony